Antifriction-bearing.



No. 876,886. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908'.

H. R. PLIMPTON, 2D. ANTIFRIUTION BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1907.

WITNESSES I INVENTOH f I fi@mymmmf/ m2 I I ATTORNEYS nrrn srarns Arnieare.

HENRY aicnaanson PLI'MPTON, 2D, OFVNEWTON CENTER, na'ssacnusnrrs.

ANTIFRIGTION-BEARING.

/ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Application filed'March 26. 1907. Serial No. 364,605-

To all "whom it may concerm I Be it known that I, HENRY RICHARDSONPLIMPTON, 2d, a citizen of the United States,

and a resident of Newton Center, in

.ments in anti-friction bearings, and more particularly to that type ofbearing in which a plurality of rotatable members, as, for instance,balls or rollers, are held between parts movable in relation to eachother.

The object of the invention is to so construct the device that allcontacting surfaces will have a rolling rather than a sliding or rubbingengagement with each other, and in order to accomplish this object Iprovide rotatable spacing members adapted to be moved by centrifugalforce to such positions that they serve to hold the load-supportingballs at equal distances from each other and rotate by contacttherewith, the outward. movement of said spacing members serving notonly to separate them from engagement with their raceway but alsoserving to effect a finer adjustment of the load-supporting ha s.

The'invention consists in certain features of'construction andcombination of parts, all of which will be fully set forth hereinafterand particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings forming a art of thisspecification, and in which simi ar characters of refercnce indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is acentral longitudinal section of a device embodying one form of myinvention; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, certain of the parts beingremoved; Fig. 3 is an end view partially broken away, showing adifferent means for securing the bearing in lace within aavheel; andFig. i is a central lbngitudinal section of the parts shown inMyimproved antifrictionbearing is adapted for use in rotatably mountingone member in respect to another, and is capable of use in a variety ofdifferent devices, but for purposes of illustration I have shown thebearing as used in connection with a roller skate wheel and so connectedthereto that the roller may be readily removed from the bearing withoutaltering the adjustment of the latter.

In the specific device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Iprovide a spindle 10 adapted to be non-rotatably secured to any suitablemechanism and having a sleeve 11 closely: fitting but rotatably mountedthereon. To this sleeve are secured the cones or .raceways for theballs, and it is evident that.

the cones or raceways may be. secured in any suitable manner, Asshown,the sleeve 11 is screw-threaded save for a short distance intermediateits ends, and secured to the sleeve are two cones 12 12 having curvedannular raceways facing each other and adapted to su porttwo rows orseries of load-supporting ba ls 13.

Surrounding the balls and forming an outer casing for the bearing, Iemploy an annular casing 14 having a central ridge, upon each side ofwhich are curved annular raceways adapted to engage with the two rows ofballs 13 andho'ld said-balls in. the desired position. By moving eitherof the cones 12 longitudinally upon the sleeve, the proper adjustment ofthe balls may be readily secured. The cones are held in place uponthesleeve by any suitable means, as, for instance, nuts 15, andintermediate the nuts and the cones I may, if desired, insert feltwashers 16 which serve to exclude dust and.

other foreign matter from co'ntactwith the balls or bearing surfaces.

Surrounding the sleeve 11 and rotatably mounted thereon intermediatethet'wo cones 12, I provide an annular member 17 having itscircumferential face curved to form a raceway for a third series ofballs 18. These last mentioned balls are preferably smaller than theloadsupporting balls 13 and serve g merely to space the latter andprevent the engagement of any one of the load-supporting 1 'lheangroove, the annular member may be re trated in Figs. 1 and 2, theannular member 14 is held within the cylindrical passageway through thebody of the skate wheel by means of s ring rings fitting within groovesin t e body of the wheel and engaging with opposite sides of the annularcas ing 143i i,

In the forni shdwn in Figs. 3 and t, pro vide an annular member 14:having a circumferential groove or depression intermediate its ends, andadapted for engagement in this groove I provide two or more set screws21 extending inward radially through the bodyof the wheel andhavingtapered points. By loosening these screws until the points no longerengage in the moved longitudinally, as is evident from an inspection ofthe drawings; In employingbut two screws I preferably set them at anangle of 120 degrees to each other, whereby the annular member is forcedagainst the portion of the body at a point 120 degrees from each of thescrews, thus forming a threepoint contact andv assuring a-firmengagement.

Nith the body of the wheel firmly secured to the annular member 14 andthe latter rotatably mounted in respect. to the. cones 12 carried by thesleeve 11, the sleeve is placed on the spindle and held fromlongitudinal movement by any suitable means, as, for instance, a cotterpin 22.

In the operation of my improved bearing,

it will be noted that the Weight is borne by the load-su porting balls13 and that the spacing bal s 18'bea1 no weight Whatever. As the wheelis caused to rotate in respect to the spindle, the spacing balls 18 movearound on the raceway of the member 17,

whereby thatport ion of the surface of each spacin ball enga ing withthe load-supporting ba ls. would e moving in'the reverse direction fromthat of the adjacent surface of saidload-supporting ball, thus a rubbingor sliding engagement would be formed and the resistance to the freerotation thus materially increased. As soon as the wheelis caused torotate with sufficient speed, the spacing'balls being free to move ashort dis tance radially, are forced outward by centrifugal force untilthey no longer engage with the annular member 17. The spacing ballscontact only with the load-supporting balls and only with the fouradjacent loadload-supporting balls being held out of engagement witheachother are prevented from rubbing and thus their moving point ofcontact is in rolling and practically frictionless engagement ratherthan in sliding or grinding engagement. The spacing balls are thrown outinto position solely by centrifugal force, and as the force upon all ofthe balls is equal, all of them will be thrown out to the same extentand the'load-s'upporting balls will be held at equal distances. fromeach other. The annular member 17 bears no weight whatever and does noteven contact with the spacing balls when the wheel is rotated at a highspeed. It merely serves to prevent the spacing balls from moving inwardto such a position that they may pass the adjacent load-supportingballs, and

it is thus evident that. the parts maybe so proportioned that thismember may be entirely omitted. The member when em- "ployed ispreferably free to rotate on the sleeve. 11, whereby any, portion ofltinay be brought uppermost.

In the use of he device on a roller skate, the chief weight would beborne by the cones 12 at the lower portion thereof, andtherefore toprovide for the equal wearing of all portions of these cones, Ipreferably allow the sleeve 11 to freely rotate upon the spindle. Whenthe weight is applied to the skate, the friction between the sleeve andthe spindle will be sufficiently great to hold the spindle stationary,but as soon as the weight is removed from the skate, the sleeve portionof the cones 12 will be'in position to receive the wear. and wouldnormally rotate in the same direction as do the load-supporting balls13,

It is evident that the provision of the spacing balls movable tooerativeposition f by the actionof centrifu a force is not dependent uponthe speci 0 construction ofthe casings, cones and "ball raceways, sleeveor Wheel, and, therefore, various changes iwill 'be slowly rotated bythe rapid and free rotation of the Wheel, so that the next time theweight is' appliedto the skate a different may be made in the shape,size and arrange mentof these parts without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having ,thus described my invention, I

:-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: -1. In ananti-friction bearing, the combination of oppositely-disposed membershaving bearing surfaces, a plurality of rotatable load-supportingmembers interposed therebetween, and a plurality of rotatable spacingmembers movable into operatingposition.

by centrifugal force. 2. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination oftwo annular concentric members having oppositely-disposed bearingsurfaces,

. two series of rotatable load-supporting mombers interposedtherebetween and contracting with said. surfaces, and a plurality ofconcentric bearing surfaces, rotatable loadsupporting members interposedtherebetween, and a plurality of rotatable spacing members adapted whenin operative position to contact solely with said loadsupporting membersthe outer surfaces of-sai-l spacing members being in rolling engagementwith said load-supporting members.

4. In, an anti-friction bearing, the combination of two members havingoppositely disposed bearing surfaces, rotatable load-- supportingmembers interposed therebe- -tween, and an annular row of rotatablespacing members, each of said spacing members being interposed between apair of adjacent load-supporting members and when in operative positioncontacting solely with the bearing surfaces of said load-supportingmembers. j I

' 5. In an anti-friction bearing, the com bination of a plurality ofmembers having oppositely disposed concentric bearing surfaces, aplurality of rotatable load-supporting members inte osed therebetween,and a plurality of rota able spacing members movable radially bycentrifugal force into engagement solely with said load-supportingmembers. v

6. In an anti-friction bearing, the combination of a plurality ofannular members, each having a raceway, a plurality of loadsupportingballs interposed between said members and movable in said raceways, anda plurality of spacing balls movable by centril'u al force intooperative engagement with said Toad-supporting balls.

7. In ananti-friction bearing, the combination of two oppositelydisposed cones having raceways inclined toward each other, an annularcasing having two raceways facing the raceways of said cones, two rowsof load-supporting balls interposed between said casing and said cones,and a plurality of spacing balls movable into operative posi tion by theaction of centrifugal force.

8. In an anti-friction bearing, the con1- bination of two-oppositelydisposed cones having raceways inclined toward each other, an ,annulareasing having two raceways fac-' ing. the raceways of said cones, tworows of load-supporting balls interposed betw en 'sald casing and saidcones, and a plurality of spacing balls radially movable into operativejjQSltlQll by the action ofcentrifugal force.

;%?The combination 01; two annular mem- D s havlng oppositely d1sposedraceways, a

therebetween, an annular member having a peripheral raceway, and aplurality of spacway but movable out of engagement therewith by theaction of centrifugal force.

10. The combination of two annular members having oppositely disposedraceways, a plurality of load-supporting balls interposed therebetween,a freely rotatable annular member having a peripheral raceway, and aplurality of spacing balls adjacent said last mentioned raceway butmovable out of engagement therewith by the'a'ction; of centrifugalforce.

11. The combination of a spindle,a sleeve on said sleeve, an annular"casing having a 'roove in the circumferential face thereof, 4 allsinterposed between said sleeve and said casing, a wheel body surroundimsaid casing, and adjustable members carriedby said body and adapted toengage with said roove.

12. The combination of a spi'nd e, a sleeve roove in the circumferentialface thereof, balls interposed between said sleeve and-said casing, awheel body surrounding said casing, and radially disposed screwsextending through said wheel body and into engagement with said groove.

v13. In an anti-friction bearin the combination of two concentric memers having oppositely disposed-bearing surfaces, a plurality ofrotatable load-supporting members interposed therebetween, the outer ofsaid members having a groove in the circumferential face thereof, awheel body surrounding said member, and radially disposed screwsentering through said wheel body and into engagement with said groove.

= 14. In an anti-friction bearin the combination of two concentric memers having oppositely disposed bearing surfaces, a plurality ofrotatable load-supporting members interposed therebetween, the outer ofsaid men'ibers having a depression in the circumferential face thereof,a wheel body surrounding said member and longitudinally movabletherefrom, and a'radially disposed longitudinally removable fasteningmember extending through said wheel bodyv and into said depression.

HENRY RICHARDSON IIJMP'ION. 2D.

, Witnesses:

JAMns L. PLiMr'roN,

1 r I l f l l l I l j ICni'rn Arman PLIMPTON.

rotatably mounted thereon, cones mounted plurality of loadsupportingballs interposed I ing balls adjacent said lastmentioned racerotatablymounted thereon, cones mounted Y on said sleeve, an annular memberhaving a In testimony whereof I have signed my I

